Metro Manila, Philippines – Southeast Asian nations have renewed discussions on strengthening the region’s nuclear weapon-free zone as the regional bloc seeks to preserve stability amid intensifying geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific.
Senior officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) tackled cooperation under the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty during a meeting convened by the Philippines at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Monday, June 8.
The discussions come as strategic rivalry among major powers continues to reshape the regional security landscape, prompting ASEAN to reinforce its longstanding commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
The meeting was chaired by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim in his capacity as the Philippines’ ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) leader.
According to the DFA, senior officials exchanged views on areas of potential cooperation under the SEANWFZ Treaty and reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to keeping Southeast Asia free of nuclear weapons.
Signed in Bangkok in 1995 and entering into force in 1997, the treaty prohibits the development, acquisition, possession, testing and deployment of nuclear weapons within Southeast Asia. It remains one of ASEAN’s key security instruments and reflects the bloc’s long-standing goal of preventing nuclear proliferation in the region.
The issue has gained renewed relevance as geopolitical tensions continue to rise across the Indo-Pacific, with increasing military competition among major powers and growing concerns over strategic stability.
ASEAN officials also discussed the need to strengthen engagement with the bloc’s external partners to help address shared risks and emerging challenges confronting the region.
The meeting marked the fourth convening of ASEAN senior officials under the Philippines’ 2026 chairmanship and formed part of preparations for the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled next month.
The senior officials also reviewed applications by countries seeking to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), ASEAN’s foundational pact governing peaceful relations among states, and discussed preparations for activities commemorating the treaty’s 50th anniversary in July.
“As we convene for today’s Senior Officials’ Meeting, this progress serves to remind us of how far we can go if only we navigate uncertainty together,” Herrera-Lim said.
“It is in this context that I encourage all of us to capitalize on the momentum that we have generated in our engagements.”
The Philippines assumed the ASEAN chairmanship at the start of 2026 and has identified regional peace and stability, maritime cooperation, food security, energy resilience and digital transformation among its priorities.
